When Fantasy Glitches

"Ugh, I need to lie down," Magnus grumbled, dragging his feet back to Takerth Academy. Exhaustion clung to him like a second skin, and all he wanted right now was to plop onto a bed. Locked onto that singular thought, he made a beeline for the dormitory as soon as he made his way back to the academy, though calling it a 'dorm' hardly did it justice.

Takerth Academy was teeming with students, which meant the dormitory was enormous. Yet, even knowing this, the sight still caught Magnus off guard. Surrounded by a robust metal fence, the dorm area was a stark contrast to the rest of the academy, like stepping into another realm.

As soon as you entered, the scene split your focus: to your right, a sprawling field was bordered by a sparkling blue lake that mirrored the sunlight in a dazzling display. To your left, the so-called dorm building loomed, more akin to a grand manor than any dormitory. With its six distinct floors, the building's architecture seemed meticulously designed to capture the eye.

"Dorm building? Feels more like a country club," Magnus muttered, his disbelief evident. He had thought the Major General's Villa was the peak in terms of luxury in this world, but this dormitory surpassed that by far.

The nobles clearly had no sense of moderation, and the freedom for students to wear whatever they liked on dorm grounds only added to the ‘country club’ feel.

Yet, beyond that sense of freedom, what really made the dorms stand out from the rest of the academy were the unique rules they followed.

Typically, the academy grounds were off-limits to anyone who wasn't a student or staff member—unless they had permission, like Gerald had gotten for Magnus. However, the dorms operated under a completely different set of rules.

Students in the dorm area were allowed to have their own personal attendants. This included butlers, maids, and, to Magnus's shock, what appeared to be slaves. At first, he hadn't noticed—many were discreetly hidden under clothes or masquerading as elaborate jewelry, but he definitely saw collars.

I guess it never crossed my mind that this world might have slaves. Back on Earth, that kind of thing felt like ancient history when you learned about it in class, though I guess it was fairly recent in the grand scheme of things. But seeing it right in front of me like this is just...

Putting his feelings into words was tough for Magnus. Getting used to being served by Celia was one thing, but the reality of slavery pushed him far beyond his comfort zone. The slaves varied in race and gender, though Magnus, of course, couldn’t pinpoint their origins. Despite their status, it appeared they were reasonably well-cared for, though Magnus harbored no illusions that this was out of any genuine concern from the nobility. They were property, after all, and no noble would want their property to look shabby.

In the end, it’s just for appearances.

He had no idea how they were treated behind closed doors, and frankly, he wasn't sure he wanted to know. As things stood, he was powerless to change anything he saw, so he did what people often do: he looked the other way and kept walking, though it left a sour taste in his mouth.

Eventually, Magnus arrived at the dorm building, and the lobby unfolded before him.

Inside, the building struck him as a mix between a luxurious five-star hotel and a grand cathedral. Stained glass windows cast colorful light throughout the space, while lights blended into the architecture perfectly, creating a welcoming ambiance.

A long reception desk stretched along the main wall, staffed by several female receptionists. Strangely, they all looked exactly alike, each wearing a friendly smile.

Huh, are they multiples? But there are so many of them, and they all look identical; how rare would that be? I wonder if that’s why they were hired to work here.

Magnus mulled over this for a moment before deciding to shrug it off as just another quirky, rich-person eccentricity he wouldn’t understand.

Just like how they put petals in their bath water or whatever.

Identical appearances aside, each receptionist was dressed in professional attire, perfectly suiting the building’s elegant vibe. As Magnus looked around, he approached one of the receptionists, who greeted him warmly.

"Hello and welcome to the dorms. I'm Vira. How can I assist you?" Magnus hesitated, unsure of what exactly to ask about his new living quarters, but Vira quickly sensed his confusion.

"Ah, you must be new here. No worries—the process to find your dorm room is totally automatic. Just place the hand with your sigilbrand under this device," Vira explained, pointing to a peculiar hook-shaped device attached to the reception desk. The device ended in what looked like a scanner, or this world's version of one.

Following her instructions, Magnus slid his hand under the device, and it immediately responded.

Following Vira's guidance, Magnus put his hand beneath the device, which activated instantly. The sigilbrand on his hand softly lit up as a beam of blue light shot out from the scanner. The light quickly disappeared, and the glow from his sigilbrand faded.

"All set," Vira announced, retrieving a card from behind her desk and handing it to him. Magnus accepted it, noting his name and dorm room number neatly printed on the card.

I guess it's true that, at some point, the line between technology and magic blurs. I almost feel like I'm back on Earth.

"Thanks," Magnus said, giving a nod of appreciation to Vira. He found the staircase and headed up to the third floor. He paused in front of several doors, checking their numbers against the card in his hand, until he finally stopped at the right one.

These doors weren’t ordinary at all; they opened at the mere touch of a hand, sensing one’s sigilbrand to allow entry.

Stepping inside, Magnus was taken aback by how spacious the room was, far exceeding what he had been expecting. His eyes were immediately drawn to the king-sized bed that was built into the floor, reached by a small staircase. Curtains could be drawn around it for some privacy.

The room was also equipped with cozy sitting areas, both single seats and a sofa, perfect for hosting guests or just relaxing.

The bathroom was outfitted with both a bathtub and a shower, and the walk-in closet offered more than enough space for storage. Magnus also noticed another door in the upper left corner leading to an additional room.

This room is even bigger than my last one. How did they manage to squeeze all this into each room on just one floor? It seems almost impossible.

Still, his mind didn't dwell on it for long.

He flopped onto the bed, not even bothering to get undressed. Deep down, the events of the day kept replaying in his head, especially that parting look from Zeth before he vanished. It sparked a mix of concerns—some were outright paranoia, while others seemed more rational. He was a criminal, clearly involved with a larger group.

What if Zeth planned to attack him the next time he left Takerth Academy?

It seemed unlikely, considering the fresh wound he had made in his stomach, but the thought nagged at Magnus. Handling a small group armed with weapons was manageable, but a larger force? That filled him with doubt.

But I can’t just hide out in the academy forever. Man, this sucks...

He sighed as he lay there, and slowly, amid his swirling thoughts, Magnus drifted off to sleep, his worries magnifying the exhaustion he already felt.

Waking up the next day to the morning sun streaming through his window, Magnus let out a yawn and stretched, still groggy. Glancing down, he noticed he was still in his uniform.

"Oh, right, I forgot to change."

His worries about Zeth and the possibility of revenge seemed less overwhelming than last night. Maybe his mind had blown things out of proportion because he was tired, or perhaps it was just the night's stillness making everything feel more intense. Now, the fear hadn't vanished completely, but it simmered down to a more manageable level.

As for how he'd handle the situation if his fear became a reality? Well, Magnus was still figuring that part out.

He got out of bed and walked to his walk-in closet. Inside, six sets of clothes were arranged neatly, each one identical to the Mage Division uniform he wore, enough to last him through the week.

"I still can't figure out how they got my size right, but whatever. There are seven uniforms, though. Does that mean we have classes every single day? What about breaks?"

He had memorized the academy's rules with the help of Basker, yet there was no mention of a schedule. He guessed such details would likely be covered on his first day of classes.

I really need to pick up some normal clothes soon. Wearing this academy uniform all the time is going to start feeling weird and uncomfortable. Oh, and I forgot to ask about that thing yesterday; I should do that now.

Magnus stood up and walked to the bathroom to wash up. After changing into a clean uniform, he headed to the lobby. Most of the receptionists were busy, so he ended up talking to Vira again.

"Good to see you again. I assume there were no issues with your dorm room?" Vira greeted Magnus with a friendly smile as he approached.

"Yeah, thanks for checking in. The room was bigger than I thought it would be spacious, and the bed was really comfortable; I slept like a rock." Magnus replied, and Vira quickly moved the conversation forward.

"That's great to hear. So, what can I help you with today?" she asked. Magnus nodded and got straight to the point.

"I've heard that we can have servants here. Are there any particular requirements for that?" He asked. Vira paused for a moment before answering.

"Not really. As long as the servant agrees and their employer approves, we handle the rest. Of course, we'll need to do background checks for security purposes before everything is made official. If you're thinking of registering a servant, just give us their name, and we'll take care of everything else."

Hearing how simple it was, Magnus told Vira what she needed to know.

"Her name is Celia Stoneworth. She works and lives at the Major General’s Villa, close to the garrison in the Lower City." As he spoke, Vira pulled out a piece of paper and scribbled down everything.

"Alright, I'll relay this information. If all goes well, expect an update from me in the next couple of days." After expressing his gratitude, Magnus turned and exited the dormitory building.

The idea to bring Celia to Takerth Academy wasn't something he made on a whim. Magnus had actually discussed this with Celia before his departure.

"Wait, seriously? They let servants into Takerth Academy?" Celia's disbelief was clear as she stared at Magnus.

"Well, kind of. Gerald mentioned that servants can hang around the student dorms. It's actually pretty surprising when you think about it, considering all the security the academy has," Magnus replied, a bit puzzled himself.

Thinking about it for a bit, Celia added, "Well, like I said before, the Four Rings of Nobility and the Ten Great Magic Academies have close ties with one another. They probably don't mind bending the rules to make life easier for the nobles, as long as it doesn't go against their core principles."

Magnus nodded as he thought it over. It made sense.

"So, why are you bringing this up now?" Celia looked at Magnus curiously.

"Ah, well, you said it yourself earlier, and I guess I agree. I've gotten used to having you around, and not just because you make amazing tea." It took a moment for Celia to grasp what Magnus was hinting at, and when she did, her expression shifted from surprise to a dawning realization.

"Wait—hold on. Are you really asking me to come to Takerth Academy with you? Seriously? But why?" Celia's voice rang with disbelief, her surprise unmistakable.

Magnus simply nodded in response.

"But... I can't just leave... I mean, I can’t just abandon my job here. I can't uproot and start working somewhere else full-time," Celia said, her voice tinged with anxiety.

"No need to worry about that. Since I'm the one inviting you, I'll arrange your hours. Basically, you can come over whenever it works for you," Magnus explained, his words surprising Celia, her face a mask of disbelief.

"Wait, really? But I'm going there as your maid, right? I thought I'd be there all day," Celia questioned, a hint of confusion in her tone.

Magnus gave a slightly smug smile before replying, "Believe it or not, I don’t actually need a maid to look after me. I’ve been on my own for quite some time. Plus, I didn't ask you to come just to keep serving me. It might sound a bit cheesy, but... I actually enjoy your company."

As Magnus admitted that, he cringed a bit at his own words.

You know I think for once I'm happy Wendy isn't around. If she ever heard me say something like that, or heaven forbid, to her, she'd never let me live it down.

But when Magnus saw Celia's expression, the same sense of regret that would wash over him if he said that to Wendy engulfed him.

"Cut it out, seriously," Magnus said, irritation creeping into his voice as he noticed the smirk spreading across her face.

Her smirk reminded him of a mom’s proud smile seeing her kids in new Christmas outfits, or the joy on someone’s face at the sight of a puppy.

"Aw, come on... do you really like hanging out with me that much?" Celia teased her tone light and playful.

"You know what? Never mind, I can handle things on my own," Magnus quickly said, stripping his voice of any warmth, which earned a stifled laugh from Celia.

"Fine, fine, I’ll stop," Celia said, causing Magnus to roll his eyes, giving her a moment to think. After a short pause, she sighed.

"I'll need to talk to the Head Maid about it first, though this definitely won’t help kill the rumors..."

"Wait, what rumors?" Magnus’s brow furrowed in confusion.

Once everything was sorted and he had left the dormitory, Magnus felt a surge of excitement about finally visiting his favorite spot at Takerth Academy: the library.

He had caught a glimpse of it before, but now he had the chance to really dive in, and he could barely contain his excitement.

"All these books just waiting for me," he whispered to himself, a smile playing on his lips.

"What should I explore first? Maybe some biology? The library at the Major General's Villa only had the most basic books on human anatomy."

Engrossed in his thoughts, Magnus almost didn't notice the person walking ahead of him. It was her unique hair color that caught his eye from afar, and he immediately recognized her—Seraline, the girl he had seen sparring during his time with Gerald.

She was deeply absorbed in a book, her head bowed as she read. However, a brief frown crossed her face when she felt someone's gaze on her. Turning slightly, she caught Magnus’s eye. Her initially indifferent expression slowly shifted to one of recognition as she took in his features.

"You're the boy from before, Magnus Wright, right?" Seraline asked as she looked around, apparently searching for someone.

"Yeah, and don’t worry, Gerald isn’t here this time." A slight sigh of relief escaped Seraline as she and Magnus matched steps and started walking together.

"You really don’t seem to like Gerald; I caught you glaring at him earlier," Magnus commented, drawing a quick glance from Seraline.

"I respect his skills as a knight and his rank, but that doesn’t make him a good teacher. He acts like a brute and lacks any sense of proper manners," she replied, her tone making it clear she found Gerald lacking in many areas, which left Magnus without much to defend.

Gerald was strong, no doubt, but even Magnus questioned if he was cut out to be an instructor.

"I guess it doesn’t help that he’s not too fond of nobles either," Magnus added. Hearing this, Seraline stopped walking abruptly, making Magnus stop as well. She looked at him intently, a spark of curiosity in her eyes.

"And what about you? How do you feel about the nobility?" Her voice had a slight change in it, suggesting she was probing for something deeper.

"Well, I haven’t really formed a solid opinion yet," Magnus admitted after a pause, trying to be as honest as possible. Seraline maintained eye contact for a moment longer, then her eyelids fluttered shut as if she was thinking.

"I see. Are you headed to the library too?" she asked suddenly, moving on from the topic. Caught off guard, Magnus hesitated before nodding.

"Yeah, that's the plan. I've got a whole list of books I'm itching to dive into," Magnus said, his excitement reigniting at the thought of the library's vast collection. However, his bright smile faded quickly when Seraline spoke up.

"Hmm, if you're heading there, you'll need to talk to Eveline," she mentioned, making Magnus cock his head to the side.

"Eveline? Who's that?" he inquired, confusion clear in his voice. Seraline decided to fill him in as they walked.

"She's the librarian here at the academy. If you're looking for something in particular, she's the person you want to talk to," Seraline explained.

"Why bother the librarian just to check out a book or two? The library looked pretty well organized to me," Magnus questioned, a hint of surprise crossing Seraline's face at his remark.

"You really don't know how things are done around here, do you? Well, nothing teaches better than experience,” she replied cryptically, piquing Magnus's curiosity further as they reached the library.

"I have a test to prepare for, so I'll be taking my leave now. Good luck finding your books, and don’t get too lost," Seraline said casually, as she left Magnus at the library entrance.

Magnus wondered about her words. The library was big, sure, but not to the point where he would get lost. Then again, there could there be something unique about the library that he hadn’t discovered yet.

As he stepped through the library's entrance, he was enveloped by the comforting scent of books and paper—a familiar and welcoming aroma. The library's grandeur was just as impressive as his first visit, and the mix of students from different divisions absorbed in their studies was equally surprising. Whether from the Knight Division or the Mage Division, all types of students gathered here, drawn by the vast collection.

The shelves were a treasure trove, ranging from complex philosophical concepts in one area to detailed accounts of long-lost kingdoms in another. Navigating the winding aisles, Magnus felt a sense of wonder. Each shelf brimmed with potential knowledge, presenting endless opportunities to delve into new and intriguing topics.

For the next hour, Magnus didn't select a single book. Instead, he wandered, letting his curiosity guide him. Through this aimless exploration, he began to grasp the extensive effects of magic censorship on the world beyond the academies.

Back at the villa, Magnus had discovered several useful books, but they only brushed the surface of their subjects.

It seemed like they stopped short of diving deeper, as if hitting an invisible wall. At first, Magnus thought this limitation was due to the medieval setting of the world and the knowledge of its scholars, but he was starting to realize the actual reason.

The superficial nature of the books wasn't because of a lack of human intellect. Rather, it was because the deeper insights into the world had been influenced by magic, keeping much of the knowledge hidden from ordinary people.

It's such a shame. Think of the progress that could've been made if everyone had access to this knowledge.

Magnus could only shake his head, a bit frustrated, as he pondered this in silence.

He continued to wander as before, but as he did, he started to notice something weird. No matter if he was on the ground floor or the upper levels, he spotted odd doors at the end of certain aisles.

“That’s weird,” he whispered to himself, his voice barely breaking the silence of the library. “From the outside, the library looked too small to have any extra rooms. So where do these doors lead?”

With each new door he saw, his curiosity grew. Eventually, Magnus decided to satisfy his curiosity and try one out. He made his way through the tall bookshelves to a quiet corner of the library. His own footsteps were the only sounds accompanying him.

These doors were plain, not reacting to his Sigilbrand like the dormitory doors did. He reached for the handle and found it unlocked. He paused for a moment, thinking.

Well, there were no rules about these doors that I remember. It should be okay to take a peek, right?

Reassuring himself, Magnus gently pushed the door open. Instantly, the atmosphere shifted. The familiar bright lights faded, plunging him into a different ambiance.

On the other side, bookshelves towered into the distance, unlike anything he had seen before. If the previous shelves were large, these were colossal. They stretched like skyscrapers into an abyss of darkness, their tops disappearing from view.

This section lacked the orderly arrangement he’d seen before. Only faint light from lanterns on scattered pillars along the walls or in the middle of the winding paths provided some visibility, but it was minimal.

Before stepping through, Magnus took a moment to glance back at the well-lit library he had left behind before gazing at the gloomy expanse before him.

“There’s no way…” he whispered in disbelief. The library before him seemed impossible. He had seen the building from outside many times and was sure it couldn’t contain such a large space, yet here it was.

Now I get it... This is what Seraline was warning me about. Not to get lost in here. This place is far from normal.

As Magnus stepped fully into the room, he heard Basker’s voice echoing in his mind.

[Would you like me to start creating a mental map?]

Yeah, that's a smart move. This place is already starting to creep me out.

With Basker on the job, mapping out his route, Magnus felt a flicker of relief. He wandered deeper into the library, his every step seeming to melt into the shadows, leaving only the faint glow of lanterns to light his path.

He paused to glance at some books on the shelves and was startled to see texts in languages he couldn’t decipher. Since he had arrived in this world, he'd magically understood and could read the common human language, although he couldn't write in it.

But I can't make out anything on these labels or book spines. Does that mean they're not written in human language? Or is it some other kind of human language I'm not familiar with? Either way, it feels like I've stumbled into a forbidden tomb. If Basker weren't keeping my thoughts in check, I'd probably be jumping at my own shadow right now.

As Magnus ventured deeper into the Second Library, he followed the walls since the tall bookshelves seemed to form a bewildering maze after only a few meters. But even when following the walls, after walking a considerable distance, there was no sign of an end, and the doorway he'd entered from was now lost from view.

Maybe I should turn back and try heading a different way?

However, as this thought crossed his mind, he spotted something near the next pillar, glowing under the warm, orange light of a nearby lamp.

"Wait a second…" As he drew closer, his suspicion was confirmed: there was another door.

It looked similar to the one he had used to enter the Second Library, except this one was closed, unlike the door he had come through, which remained open.

Logically, this door should have led back to the First Library, but logic seemed irrelevant as Magnus reached out, pushing the door open. Beyond it, he saw a sight that made his eyes widen in disbelief.

Past the door he'd just opened, a vast labyrinth of towering bookshelves reached up into the darkness.

"It's the same library?" He turned to glance back. He was sure of it. The light from the lanterns gradually dimmed in the distance, and the pillars, along with the unfamiliar languages on the books—all of it was identical to the library he was already in.

"But… on the other side of this wall should be—" His words stopped suddenly as Magnus's realization shifted. On this side, the doorframe was against a wall, but on the other side, the door he had just come through was attached only to a pillar.

Taking a step forward through the door, Magnus looked up and proved his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. It really was a plain stone pillar adorned with the same lanterns he'd seen before, but this one now featured a door.

"What in the world?" One side of the door was snug against a wall, and on the other, it attached to the pillar—both leading into the very same library. Magnus walked all the way through the door and circled the pillar, his bewilderment deepening.

The pillar was undeniably solid, with no hidden passages, feeling sturdy all around, even where the doorframe met it. He even closed the door and checked the pillar again, but nothing had changed.

Magnus slumped down onto the carpet, needing a moment to gather his thoughts. In his mind, he couldn't help but draw parallels to those who met a peculiar doctor and his mysterious blue box for the first time.

The quiet moment he had to himself, however, abruptly ended when the faint sound of paper shuffling reached his ears. In a place as quiet as this, any sound that didn't originate from himself caught his attention immediately. Jumping to his feet, he felt his heartbeat quicken as he scanned his surroundings, but he didn’t see anything, or more like he couldn’t see anything; this place was just too dark.

Okay, that's my cue to leave.

His curiosity now overtaken by apprehension, he hastened to open the door within the pillar. As he did, a chilling realization dawned on him.

Wha- The other side of the door... moved?